Colin's sojourn in the land where even the mundane is mystic and the mystic is sometimes ridiculous has produced some lovely accounts. A writer's eye and a traveller's soul blend perfectly in Colin's writing. Zine5 is proud to present its first Special Feature - The Madras Diaries.

Back to the Future on Triplicane High Road (2nd September 2002)
The flower sellers reminded me of a song from a more innocent time which goes along the lines of - "Someone told me there's a girl out there with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair." The song was called Going to California...

Chasing Rainbows in Chennai (26th August 2002)
The advertisements were almost carbon copies of the ones in the West, in terms of the products and the shiny coca-cola lifestyles promoted. MTV India was populated with veejays (presenters) who talked like Americans, dressed like Americans and probably wanted to be American...

Dysentery in Delhi, Chills in Chennai and Vomit in Varkala: Don't Ask How I Am! (19th August 2002)
My kidneys were on fire and to attempt to lie still seemed to be the least painful option. But I couldn't lie still. I still writhed in pain, and it was going to be fruitless in the long-term. I needed medical help...

All Aboard the Tamil Nadu Express: Next Stop - Insanity! (12th August 2002)
He had met a woman in the hotel, and was totally mad about her. The moment he saw her he knew that she was a heartbreaker. He said that's when Jimmy Page's mind-blowing guitar riff began playing inside of his head...

Me, God and Jerry Seinfeld: Spaced Out in India (29th July 2002)
Like many other travellers, I have been to numerous holy places steeped in mysticism where yoga and meditation courses abound. Unlike other travellers, however, I had never felt any compulsion to indulge in a spiritual quest for inner peace (or whatever it is they search for)...

Poison Kiss (17th June 2002)
"I would like you to be the main actor in a film I am making, sir." Everyone in the room turned to see who said this. A few seconds later they began looking in my direction and I almost choked on my coffee...

From Copenhagen to Byron Bay: An Energy Crisis and a Tale of Two Women (3rd June 2002)
Someone sat next to me. She was stunning! She was Scandinavian!! But she looked so out of place, and not like a usual backpacker. It was as though she had come straight from a bar in Copenhagen...

Cardboard Cows and Sugarpuffs: A Taxi Ride to Fame (27th May 2002)
Women glide past perched side-saddle on a thousand speeding mopeds. Their saris drape and flow in the evening pollution, accompanying the strangled wail of film music coming from the street-side shops...